The Hive

Visited The Hive for a conference, was very impressed with the organisation and facilities available.
The building is really easy to find, and there was clear signage outside for the event I was attending. The bean-​to-​cup coffee machines are a great idea, glad there was four machines available as they got used pretty heavily! The complimentary bags of dried fruit and nut mix, along with fresh fruit, and biscuits made a great mid-​morning and late afternoon energy boost.
The only thing that was a bit tricky was lunchtime — as there was more than one event on it wasn’t immediately clear as to which food was for which event. Also as my event had catered hot food there wasn’t anywhere to sit, or stand, with a table — pork loin is not easy to eat one handed!
Very pleasant venue, got a little warm in the afternoon but the staff we all really freindly and couldn’t do enough to help.

The Hive is a relatively new building the Northern Quarter, housing the popular Bakerie wine store (with the restaurant right next door), my favourite Pie & Ale and the lesser known Classroom. Last night, they had their ‘launch party’, advertised as for Pie & Ale but really just to encourage visitors to come on in.
We printed our tickets from eventbrite, got our wristbands and told to enjoy. Walking through the crowds of people — this was the busiest I’d ever seen it! — we were instantly faced with a huge bbq. Why oh WHY did we have dinner before we went? Steak sandwiches and the biggest foccacia’s you’ve ever seen, all looking and smelling delicious.
Heading straight for what we know, Pie & Ale was the first stop, only for the girl behind the bar to explain that there was some free drinks still available. Free? We didn’t quite believe her, but a few steps next door into Classroom — usually used for independent arts and crafts lessons etc — we realised it was set up with around 6 kegs of real ale, being served in halves. For free. There was a Tanqueray gin bar set up within the alleyway of the building, serving g & t’s and my personal least favourite, Aperol, the bitter orange Italian liquor.
Instead, I opted for a glass of wine from the Bakerie wine store — having never been in here, I was eager for a nose around. Sadly, the free wine option had gone, and the bartender sadly told me it would be £3 a glass. £3? Sign me up! The Wizard of Oz was playing on the ceiling and there was a large wooden table set up, covered in flour, having played host to a bread making workshop earlier in the day.
It was at this point we realised what the launch felt like — a massive, albeit pretty fancy, house party. Different drinks and music in each room, a few people you know, and generally everyone having a really relaxed Friday night.

I came to #SASCon in Manchester and it was held here at the Hive.
Well located 5 mins from centre of Manchester. Good facilities, superfast wifi and everything well laid out.